City of Tavares Public Library Native Plant Garden

The City of Tavares Public Library in Lake County was selected to pilot the Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden Grant in spring 2025. In partnership with UF/IFAS Master Gardeners, the library created a native wildflower demonstration garden in Ridge Park’s Palm Circle, a highly visible location in downtown Tavares. This 85-square-foot garden offers an immersive educational experience for the community while also providing vital habitat and resources for native wildlife.

DID YOU KNOW? Florida native plants are adapted to thrive in our climate, conditions and soil. They need less water than other plants, and require no fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals. This saves precious water resources and keeps excess nutrients from polluting lakes, rivers and streams.

The garden was made possible by a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

Several children and adults are gathered around benches under a large palm tree in a grassy outdoor area on a sunny day. — The City of Tavares Public Library

The following native species were planted:

Butterflyweed

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial that produces large, showy clusters of bright orange to reddish flowers from spring through fall. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, and…

Swamp milkweed

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ) has showy pink flowers that typically bloom in summer and attract many pollinators. It occurs naturally in floodplain swamps, hydric hammocks, wet pine flatwoods and…

Swamp milkweed

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis) blooms in late spring through early fall and attracts many pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies.

Saltbush

Also known as Groundsel tree and Sea myrtle, Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia) is a long-lived perennial shrub that typically blooms in fall. It occurs naturally in coastal uplands and dunes, along…

American beautyberry

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a woody shrub found in pinelands and hammocks throughout Florida. Its flowers are a nectar source for pollinators, while the numerous berries provide food for…

Lanceleaf tickseed

Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata ) has conspicuously sunny flowers that typically bloom in spring. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and its seeds are eaten by birds and small wildlife.

Largeflower false rosemary

Largeflower false rosemary (Conradina grandiflora) is an endemic and state-threatened wildflower that occurs naturally in scrub habitats along the east coast of Central and South Florida.

Oblongleaf twinflower

If you are tired of mowing, watering and fertilizing the lawn, consider replacing your turf grass with Oblongleaf twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia), an easy-to-care-for native groundcover.

Swamp twinflower

Swamp twinflower (Dyschoriste humistrata) is a low-growing wildflower that occurs naturally along the edges of forested wetlands. A great groundcover option for a moist to wet shady area, it attracts…

Coralbean

Coralbean (Erythrina herbacea ) is a deciduous to evergreen woody shrub. It produces red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Narrowleaf yellowtops

Narrowleaf yellowtops (Flaveria linearis) blooms in late summer through fall, producing many bright yellow flowers that are attractive to a plethora of butterflies, bees and flower beetles.

Firebush

Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens) is a hardy shrub to small tree. It produces clusters of bright orange to red tubular flowers that are filled with nectar, attracting butterflies and…

Scorpionstail

Scorpionstail ( Heliotropium angiospermum) is a shrub-like plant with unique white flowers that bloom year-round. Its nectar attracts a variety of butterflies including the Miami blue and Schaus’ swallowtail.

Narrowleaf sunflower

Narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is one of Florida’s most common native sunflowers. In nature, it forms dense colonies, resulting in spectacular swaths of sunshine yellow when in bloom.

Dune sunflower

Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis) occurs naturally along the coast. Its bright flowers attract a variety of pollinators, its dense growth pattern provides cover for many small animals and birds enjoy…

Lakeside sunflower

Lakeside sunflower (Helianthus carnosus) is a perennial wildflower endemic to northeast Florida that inhabits open sunny edges of lakes and marshes. The bright yellow flowers attract a variety of pollinators…

Clustered bushmint

Clustered bushmint (Hyptis alata) occurs naturally along pond and swamp margins, in moist roadside ditches, and in wet prairies and pinelands. It typically blooms spring through fall, but may bloom…

Dense gayfeather

Dense gayfeather (Liatris spicata ) has striking spikes of purple flowers that bloom late summer through fall and are excellent attractors of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.

Cardinalflower

Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) is an aquatic wildflower with erect spikes of brilliant red blooms that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

Lantana

Lantana depressa is an endemic and state-endangered wildflower that occurs in pine rockland and coastal upland habitats. Butterflies and moths are thought to be its primary pollinators.

Sunshine mimosa

Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) has showy “powderpuff” flowers that bloom spring through summer, attracting mostly bees. The plant is a larval host for the Little sulphur butterfly.

Spotted beebalm

Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) is a robust, aromatic wildflower known to attract a huge variety of pollinating insects, including bees, wasps and butterflies. It blooms from early summer through fall.

Muhlygrass

Nothing says fall in Florida like the purple haze of Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom. When planted en masse, this perennial bunchgrass puts on a spectacular fall display.

Simpson’s stopper

Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) has year-round blooms that attract a variety of butterflies and bees; its fruit provides food for many bird species.

Narrowleaf silkgrass

Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) blooms late summer through early winter in sandhill, flatwoods and scrub habitats throughout the state. It has brilliant yellow flowers and silvery leaves.

Frogfruit

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is both a versatile and vital wildflower. This evergreen perennial is low-growing and creeping, often forming dense mats of green foliage.

Wild coffee

Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) flowers typically bloom in spring and summer, but may bloom year-round. They are attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially Atala and Schaus’ swallowtail butterflies.

Prairie coneflower

While Prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is most common in the prairies and limestone glades of the midwestern US, its southernmost range dips into Florida’s Panhandle.

Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) typically blooms in spring through fall. It is pollinated by a variety of insects, and its seeds are eaten by seed-eating birds.

Softhair coneflower

Softhair coneflower (Rudbeckia mollis) is a robust plant with bright yellow blooms that provide spring and summer color to sandhills, dry open hammocks and roadsides in North and Central Florida.

Wild petunia

Wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) typically blooms late spring through early fall, attracting a variety of pollinators. It is also a host plant for the White peacock butterfly.

Tropical sage

Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) is a versatile perennial wildflower that no pollinator can resist, but it is particularly attractive to bees, large butterflies and hummingbirds.

Chapman’s wild sensitive plant

Chapman’s wild sensitive plant (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii) is a state-listed threatened species. Its flowers are visited by a variety of native bees and butterflies, and it is a larval…

Privet senna

Privet senna (Senna ligustrina ) occurs naturally in hammocks and disturbed areas. Its flowers are mainly bee-pollinated, but the plant is a larval host for the Cloudless sulphur and Sleepy…

Blue-eyed grass

The low profile of Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) makes it an excellent groundcover choice. It is fairly adaptable to a variety of conditions.

Calico aster

Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) is a lovely fall-blooming aster that occurs in a wide variety of habitats — from forests to marshes and wet prairies — and ranges across Eastern…

Elliott’s aster

Elliott’s aster (Symphyotrichum elliottii) is a perennial wildflower and wonderful plant for attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators due to its many fragrant blooms.

Chapman’s goldenrod

Of Florida’s 22 Goldenrods, Chapman’s goldenrod (Solidago odora var. chapmanii) is one of the best suited to home landscapes. A wonderful wildlife supporter, it is popular with a variety…

Seaside goldenrod

Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens ) blooms in showy masses on dunes, in swales and brackish marshes, on sandy soils in coastal areas, and occasionally inland throughout the state.

Wand goldenrod

Wand goldenrod (Solidago stricta) persists in wetter environments than most of our other native goldenrods, occurring naturally in wet flatwoods and prairies.

Stokes’ aster

Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) typically blooms in spring and summer, but may bloom throughout the year, attracting a variety of bees, wasps and butterflies.

Spiderwort

Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis ) flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. Like all species in the dayflower family, the flowers are ephemeral, meaning they stay open only one day.

Forked bluecurls

Forked bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum ) have dainty yet distinctive bluish-purple flowers. They are short-lived, opening only in the morning, but individual plants may produce thousands of flowers throughout a season…

Darrow’s blueberry

Darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is a small shrub that is underappreciated as a landscape plant. Its profuse spring blooms attract many pollinators and the sweet summer berries are attractive to…

Giant ironweed

Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a robust perennial wildflower that blooms in summer and fall, attracting a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies.

Adam’s needle

Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa) is a low-growing evergreen shrub found in scrub, sandhills, flatwoods and coastal dunes throughout much of Florida. As a landscape plant, it provides interest with its…

Mauve (Abutilon hulseanum)

Georgia calamint (Calaminthia georgiana)

Wild Sweet Basil (Ocimum campechianum)

Pink Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus)

Florida Scrub Skullcap (Scutellaria arenicola)

POLLINATORS NEED YOUR HELP!

Help Florida’s wildlife and environment by using native wildflowers and plants in your landscape. Click here to learn more information on planting, selecting and maintaining native plants, or check out these resources: